Opening victory for first team: weekend round-up

Lithon Tarofder was the key contributor as Merstham won their first Fullers League Division Two match of the season, at Quality Street on Saturday.

He used his seam bowling to good effect, taking three wickets for 15 runs in his nine overs (three maidens) as Wallington were dismissed for 131. Humayoon Nasir, the seventh bowler used, also took 3-32 from six overs.

Tarofder, batting six, made an unbeaten half century during Merstham's reply as they knocked off the runs for the loss of six wickets.

Opener Ashar Syed scored 36 before Tarofder constructed an innings of 52 not out to help the hosts take a good home victory by four wickets, with dropped catches costing the visitors. 

The second XI lost by four wickets at Lingfield, scoring 84 batting first.

A joint third and fourth team were grateful for Offham agreeing late on Friday to play them, but were then set a tough challenge as the visitors struck 197-6, Sumair Qasim taking 3 for 23 in his eight overs.

The hosts then found themselves restricted in their own scoring chances in reply, being all out for 75 and losing by 122 runs.

On Sunday, Rottingdean set an impossing target of 220-7 from 40 overs, with Will Prior (3-50) and Terry Garrett (2-60) taking wickets in their 11 over spells. In a timed game at Quality Street, Merstham saw out the draw scoring 149-6 thanks in large part to Bobby Sharp making up for his golden duck the previous weekend with a sterling knock of 70 not out.